So, this is the video that I learned from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2k7bbz7imQ
You should watch it first.
It seems intimidating, but is really easy. The hardest part about it is just that you have to give it a lot of time, so choose a day when you're home and aren't running around to make this bread.
I love bringing this to potlucks, because people are always super impressed, and I never end up bringing any home with me. It's fun to make homemade bread for people to cheer them up, too. :)
Have fun!
You need:
All Purpose Flour
Warm Water
Yeast
Oil
Salt
(Herbs & Cheese if you want to make cheesy bread)
So, first you mix-
All of these are approximate measurements (obviously)
-6 cups flour
-1 T Yeast
-1 T Salt
-(stir that up)
-3.5 C Warm Water
Mixing the water with dry ingredients works best if you make a well in the middle and pour the water in. Then, use a child cheater to fold everything together. It should be a little sticky, but not too much. Add flour as needed. You'll need this in a big bowl.
Then, cover it with a towel, and let it sit for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, come back and fold it like an envelope...or a burrito. Doesn't really matter. Just make sure you pull each side kind up and over, trapping more bubbles inside.
Then, wait 30 minutes more. While you're doing this, turn your oven on to 400. If you have a pizza stone, put that in. If you don't have a pizza stone, use parchment paper and a cookie sheet or something.
When you come back, wrap it again. Then wait 10 minutes.
Get about 1 C of water ready next to the oven, and any spices or cheese you want on your bread.
Your pizza stone or pan should be in the oven while it's pre-heating, along with a broiler pan underneath. You are going to dump the water into the broiler pan, creating steam, which will make your bread crisp on the outside.
Here are your pieces you've cut your dough into. After ten minutes, you should be able to fold two sides over, pulling them gently in the process. The video at the beginning really helps with this step.
Then, wait 5-10 minutes and fold and stretch again, making your baguette just a little longer and thinner. If it's as big as your arm, that's probably perfect...unless you're AHnold...then it needs to be smaller.
When you do your last stretch and fold, place it back down (seam-side down) onto your parchment paper, or a pizza peel covered in corn meal. This way, you can place or slide your bread into the oven without picking it up and crushing it.
Right before it goes in, make some slits with a serrated knife. Go fast and don't push down too hard or your dough will get smooshed.
Add herbs or cheese, sparingly, and you're ready to put it in the oven!
Slide it onto your pizza stone or prepared hot surface, and pour your water into your broiling pan. This will create steam. Then, close the oven, and set the timer for about 20 minutes.
To tell if it's done when you pull it out, knock on the bottom. It should sound hollow.
If it doesn't, put it back in.
If it does, but you want your outside darker, put the oven on broil, and stick it back in for like 60 seconds.
Cool your bread on a cooling rack if you have one. If you don't, try to lean it on something so that the bottom of the bread isn't just flat on the pan (you still have some steam in your bread, and if it can't escape, it will make the bottom of your bread soggy).
Enjoy!
